Toonhound - Joe 90 (1968)

    It's 2112 - the future! - and with the aid of a super machine, a nine year old
   boy becomes the 90th secret agent working for the World Intelligence Network
    (WIN). His new operational name? - Joe 90.

    The machine in question is a spinning dome code-named BIG RAT, which
    stands for Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record And Transfer, or just a hi-tech
  way of saying it can transfer the contents of one person's mind into another.
    It was invented by Professor Ian McClaine who tested his extraordinary new
    device on his friend Sam Loover, by transferring a whole bundle of knowledge
    over to his adopted son Joe. "Mac" is about to sell BIG RAT to Convex
    Computers, but Sam works for WIN and his superior Shane Weston,
    send Joe on a mission which persuades the Professor to keep his device
    secret and exclusive to WIN. BIG RAT is thus designated as Project 90,
    and offspring Joe embarks on a series of incredible missions as WIN's
    newest and youngest recruit...

    Joe's first mission - and the one that convinces WIN. of BIG RAT's
    possibilities - involves him stealing a top-secret MIG 242 fighter plane
   from under the noses of the russians. The brainwaves of a Russian pilot
    are transferred to the lad, before he and the Professor hop on over to the
    Soviet state and Joe nips off in the airplane!

      Joe takes a spin, courtesy of BIG RAT

    Here then is another Supermarionation sensation to savour. "Joe 90"
    followed hot on the heels of Captain Scarlet, and it endeavoured to take
    further steps towards realism, both in the design of the puppets and in
    the storytelling. At the time, those ITC spy series were all the rage and
    "Joe 90" captilases with some iconic design work and a groovy theme tune.
    BIG RAT itself is a superb chocolate orange of a machine, which spins
    through the opening credits as the theme tune bubbles. The Cold War was
    also very much at its peak, which meant there were plenty of Eastern block
    activities out there to investigate, thwart and unmask. And best of all,
    Joe was a nerd hero. He wore thick black glasses which contained
    special electrodes to enable those brain transfers.

    Joe McClaine is the original Spy Kid. He was thwarting assassins and
    spies three decades before Alex Ryder rode in. Little wonder, then, that
    the live-action rights to the show have been snapped up for a modern
    reimagining....

     In the news

    The Hound: May 2003
     Joe 90 movie rights sold....

    Joe 90 episodes

     Titles presented in original broadcast order...

    The Most Special Agent         Double Agent
    Most Special Astronaut         Three's a Crowd
    Project 90                           The Professional
    Hijacked                             The Race
    Colonel McClaine                   Talkdown
    The Fortress                         Breakout
    King for a Day                       Child of the Sun God
    International Concerto            See You Down There
    Splashdown                          Lone-Handed 90
    Big Fish                               Attack of the Tiger
    Relative Danger                     Viva Cordova
    Operation McClaine                Mission X-41
    The Unorthodox Shepherd       Test Flight
    Business Holiday                    Trial at Sea
    Arctic Adventure                   The Birthday

     Broadcast info

     "The Most Special Agent" premiered on ATV on September 29th, 1968.
     The series continued to air, once a week for thirty weeks, concluding
     with "The Birthday" on April 20th, 1969...

     Joe 90 on DVD

     Joe 90: The Complete Series
                Region 2 / 5 discs / Carlton / Sept 2002

     Joe 90: Vol. 1
                Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Sept 2002

     Joe 90: Vol. 2
                Region 2 / 6 eps Carlton / Sept 2002

     Joe 90: Vol. 3
                Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Nov 2002

     Joe 90: Vol. 4
                Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Nov 2002

     Joe 90: Vol. 5
                Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Jan 2003

     Joe 90: The Complete Series
                Region 1 / 5 discs / A&E Home Video / July 2003

    created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

    producer:          David Lane
    exec prod:         Reg Hill
    directors:          Desmond Saunders, Alan Perry,
                            Leo Eaton, Ken Turner, Peter Anderson,
                            Brian Heard
    writers:             Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson,
                            Tony Barwick, Shane Rimmer,
                            David Lane, Donald James,
                            Desmond Saunders, Keith Wilson,
                            Pat Dunlop , Donald James,
                            John Lucarotti
    editor:               Harry MacDonald, Bob Dearberg,
                            Len Cleal, Alan Killick, Norma A Cole
    music:               Barry Gray
    visual fx:           Derek Meddings
    voices:              Len Jones (Joe McClaine)
                            Rupert Davies (Mac)
                            Keith Alexander (Sam Loover)
                            David Healy (Shane Weston)
                            Gary Files
                            Martin King
                            Sylvia Anderson
                            Jeremy Wilkin
                            Shane Rimmer
                            Liz Morgan


     On the web


      Big Rat
      Big Rat presents a terrific fan site detailing Joe 90's premise,
      characters, gadgets and much more!

      Fanderson
      And Joe's here at Fanderson, of course, with plenty more
      Supermarionation material to explore...

      index »   previous »    next »

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			Joe 90 (1968) producers: Century 21 for ITC Worldwide puppets: Supermarionation / string and radio-controlled puppets episodes: 30 x 25mins
		It's 2112 - the future! - and with the aid of a super machine, a nine year old boy becomes the 90th secret agent working for the World Intelligence Network (WIN). His new operational name? - Joe 90. The machine in question is a spinning dome code-named BIG RAT, which stands for Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record And Transfer, or just a hi-tech way of saying it can transfer the contents of one person's mind into another. It was invented by Professor Ian McClaine who tested his extraordinary new device on his friend Sam Loover, by transferring a whole bundle of knowledge over to his adopted son Joe. "Mac" is about to sell BIG RAT to Convex Computers, but Sam works for WIN and his superior Shane Weston, send Joe on a mission which persuades the Professor to keep his device secret and exclusive to WIN. BIG RAT is thus designated as Project 90, and offspring Joe embarks on a series of incredible missions as WIN's newest and youngest recruit... Joe's first mission - and the one that convinces WIN. of BIG RAT's possibilities - involves him stealing a top-secret MIG 242 fighter plane from under the noses of the russians. The brainwaves of a Russian pilot are transferred to the lad, before he and the Professor hop on over to the Soviet state and Joe nips off in the airplane! Here then is another Supermarionation sensation to savour. "Joe 90" followed hot on the heels of Captain Scarlet, and it endeavoured to take further steps towards realism, both in the design of the puppets and in the storytelling. At the time, those ITC spy series were all the rage and "Joe 90" captilases with some iconic design work and a groovy theme tune. BIG RAT itself is a superb chocolate orange of a machine, which spins through the opening credits as the theme tune bubbles. The Cold War was also very much at its peak, which meant there were plenty of Eastern block activities out there to investigate, thwart and unmask. And best of all, Joe was a nerd hero. He wore thick black glasses which contained special electrodes to enable those brain transfers. Joe McClaine is the original Spy Kid. He was thwarting assassins and spies three decades before Alex Ryder rode in. Little wonder, then, that the live-action rights to the show have been snapped up for a modern reimagining.... In the news The Hound: May 2003 Joe 90 movie rights sold.... Joe 90 episodes Titles presented in original broadcast order... The Most Special Agent Double Agent Most Special Astronaut Three's a Crowd Project 90 The Professional Hijacked The Race Colonel McClaine Talkdown The Fortress Breakout King for a Day Child of the Sun God International Concerto See You Down There Splashdown Lone-Handed 90 Big Fish Attack of the Tiger Relative Danger Viva Cordova Operation McClaine Mission X-41 The Unorthodox Shepherd Test Flight Business Holiday Trial at Sea Arctic Adventure The Birthday Broadcast info "The Most Special Agent" premiered on ATV on September 29th, 1968. The series continued to air, once a week for thirty weeks, concluding with "The Birthday" on April 20th, 1969... Joe 90 on DVD Joe 90: The Complete Series Region 2 / 5 discs / Carlton / Sept 2002 Joe 90: Vol. 1 Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Sept 2002 Joe 90: Vol. 2 Region 2 / 6 eps Carlton / Sept 2002 Joe 90: Vol. 3 Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Nov 2002 Joe 90: Vol. 4 Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Nov 2002 Joe 90: Vol. 5 Region 2 / 6 eps / Carlton / Jan 2003 Joe 90: The Complete Series Region 1 / 5 discs / A&E Home Video / July 2003 created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson producer: David Lane exec prod: Reg Hill directors: Desmond Saunders, Alan Perry, Leo Eaton, Ken Turner, Peter Anderson, Brian Heard writers: Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson, Tony Barwick, Shane Rimmer, David Lane, Donald James, Desmond Saunders, Keith Wilson, Pat Dunlop , Donald James, John Lucarotti editor: Harry MacDonald, Bob Dearberg, Len Cleal, Alan Killick, Norma A Cole music: Barry Gray visual fx: Derek Meddings voices: Len Jones (Joe McClaine) Rupert Davies (Mac) Keith Alexander (Sam Loover) David Healy (Shane Weston) Gary Files Martin King Sylvia Anderson Jeremy Wilkin Shane Rimmer Liz Morgan On the web Big Rat Big Rat presents a terrific fan site detailing Joe 90's premise, characters, gadgets and much more! Fanderson And Joe's here at Fanderson, of course, with plenty more Supermarionation material to explore... index » previous » next »

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